Tamil writer Jeyamohan faces backlash for his remarks against Keralites and ‘Manjummel Boys’

The writer claimed that the same mentality of characters (in the movie) was shared by the Kerala pilgrims visiting tourist places across South India.

“Not only the tourist spots, they (Keralites) also visit the jungles. That’s all it takes to get drunk. Vomiting, retching, falling, trespassing. Not interested in anything else. No basic knowledge. There is no general civility,” he wrote.

The writer added, “I have seen these Malayalam drunkards involved in road rage at least 10 times in Ooty, Kodaikanal, and Kuttalam areas. Both sides of their cars are covered in vomit — as shown in this picture (Manjummel Boys). After drinking, they throw away the putti and break it. If in doubt, go to the Sengottai-Kuttalam Road or the Kudallur-Ooty Road and see if there are broken and unbroken roads. They also proudly show that in the film!”

Jeyamohan further stated that “the Malayalam morons don’t know a word of another language and all questions will be answered in Malayalam.”

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Criticises Malayalam filmmakers

Writer Jeyamohan’s blog, where he made objectionable comments against Keralites and ‘Manjummel Boys’. (Screenshot)

Jeyamohan opined that Malayalam cinema constantly shows its characters as happy humans by drinking, fighting, rioting, vomiting, and destabilising the common man.

He alleged that drinking was nothing new in Malayalam movies and they were trying to make it a social acceptance.

The writer also criticised Malayalam filmmakers as a “group of drug addicts centred in Ernakulam”.

“There is alcoholism day and night and worse, addictions. There are drug peddlers in Kerala, especially in Ernakulam. Even Malayalam lead actors getting caught up in drug cases are often in the news. It is they who are making the Malayalam community accustomed to taking drug addiction as normal.”

He also alleged that films like Kili Poyi (2013), Vedivazhipadu (2013), Ozhivunerathe Kali (2015), and Jallikattu (2019) normalised drug addiction and prostitution.

Jeyamohan faces backlash

Jeyamohan’s insensitive remarks about Keralites received strong backlash. Several people from Malayalam cinema and media objected to his statements.

Responding to Jeyamohan’s comments, Tamil filmmaker Naveen Hidayath said in his X post that there is no difference between Sanghis who refer to Tamils as “porukkis” (loafers) and the author.

“The Sanghi who used the term ‘Tamil porukkis‘ and this Sanghi who said ‘Malayali porukkis‘ are frogs in the same gutter.”

He also stated that when Tamilians visit Kerala or when Malayalis visit Tamil Nadu, they only speak Tamil. Moreover, there are drunkards everywhere.

‘தமிழ் பொறுக்கிஸ்’ என்று சொன்ன அந்த சங்கியும், ‘மலயாளப் பொறுக்கிகள்’ என்று சொல்லும் இந்த சங்கியும் ஒரே சாகடையில் ஊறும் இரண்டு தவளைகளே. தமிழர்கள் கேரளம் சென்றாலும், மலையாளிகள் தமிழ்நாடு வந்தாலும், அவர்கள் நம்மிடம் தமிழிலேயே பேசுகிறார்கள். குடிப்பொறுக்கிகள் உலகெங்கும் நிறந்துளர்! pic.twitter.com/gRRvk5ihZp

— Naveen Hidhayath (@NaveenFilmmaker) March 9, 2024

Tamil filmmaker Lenin Bharathi wondered if Jeyamohan’s brain turned into a soured batter, which led him to use the term “Malayali porukkis“.

Malayalam filmmaker B Unnikrishnan, in his Facebook post, wrote that each character in Manjummel Boys was a representative of people living in different streams of life.

About Jeyamohan’s remarks, Unnikrishnan said he doesn’t deserve a response.

He asked Jeyamohan to come out with facts and figures for his statement that young filmmakers in Kochi are promoting drug addiction.

Unnikrishnan also stated that Jeyamohan couldn’t understand the tribute given by director Chidambaram (Manjummel Boys) to Kamal Haasan and Illaiyaraaja due to the hatred in his mind.

He ended his post by saying, “Let us celebrate camaraderie, love is our religion. Let’s rock on, let’s party, boys!!!”

தமிழ் படங்களில்தான் போதைப்பொருள், சாராயம், கத்தி, துப்பாக்கி, வன்முறை கலாச்சாரம் மோலோங்கி இருக்கின்றன.

மலையாளத்தில் Home, The Great Indian Kitchen, Virus, Minnal Murali, Premalu, Manjummel Boys உள்ளிட்ட பல்வேறு மாறுபட்ட கதைக்களங்கள் வெற்றி பெற்று வருகின்றன.

இப்படியான… pic.twitter.com/go9oAgmMCK

— Blue Sattai Maran (@tamiltalkies) March 9, 2024

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